<html><body>
Australia's biggest mortgage aggregator, AFG, has denied that the business is up for sale and has offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who can tell them who is spreading the rumours.
Rumours of the business being put up for sale have resurfaced, after doing the rounds around 12 months ago.
AFG managing director Brett McKeon dismissed the speculation and offered a reward for the successful prosecution of a defamation case against the person spreading the rumour.
“The simple truth of the matter is that AFG is in fantastic shape.
"And I would ask anyone who knows who the person or persons are that are spreading the rumour togive me a call, I may have $10,000 for them.
"Once again, I say to all those who are asking - quite simply, AFG is not for sale. Andto the person or persons spreading the rumour – enough!”
AFG, which processed around $3.6 billion in mortgages in June and has around 1,800 mortgage brokers in its network is one of the few remaining independent aggregators.
It's main aggregator rivals PLAN Australia, FAST and Choice were acquired by NAB in 2009, when the bank acquired Challenger Mortgage Management.
They now form part of NAB's Advantedge aggregator business.
Macquarie Bank is a cornerstone investor in AFG with insurance providers Allianz and Tower also holding equity.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Mortgage aggregator AFG angrily denies sales rumour and threatens legal action

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New residential listings are set to rise by double the national rate in WA with large increases also expected in Victoria and South Australia.
The RP Data new listings activity index, a guide to the number of residential dwellings that are being prepared for sale across Australia, shows a 4.9% rise for WA on a seasonally-adjusted basis followed by South Australia (4.2%) and Victoria (4.1%).
Nationally, new listings activity is rising 2.2% month-on-month according to the RP Data index for the week ending July 21.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22eleven.jpg" width="470" height="254" alt="rpdatajuly22eleven">
The RP Data Listings Index provides a lead indicator for the number of residential dwellings that are being prepared for sale across the Australian housing market.
It shows a 75% correlation with the number of new listings about to enter the market.
<div><img src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22twelve.jpg" width="470" height="217" alt="rpdatajuly22twelve"></div>
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WA leads rise in new residential property listings: RP Data

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The mortgage market picked up pace in July led by Victoria but with all markets apart from Tasmania showing momentum, according to the latest weekly RP Data Mortgage Market Index.
Victorian mortgage activity trended up 4.1% in Victoria with gains of more than 2% in NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
The index is leading indicator of mortgage market performance (and hence demand for housing) showing an 81% correlation with the ABS housing finance data series (88% using the seasonally adjusted series). 
It is based on RP Data systems monitoring more than 100,000 mortgage activity events every month across its four main finance industry platforms. 
<img alt="rpdatajuly22nine" height="250" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22nine.jpg">
As the graph below shows, mortgage activity has been trending up since early 2013.
<div><img alt="rpdatajuly22ten" height="199" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22ten.jpg"></div>
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Mortgage activity continuing to trend up led by Victoria: RP Data

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Vendors in Hobart and Brisbane - two of the weaker residential property markets - are discounting their asking prices by almost 10% in order to achieve a sale, the latest weekly data from RP Data shows.
In Hobart, a discount of nearly 10% applies to both houses and units, which are on the market for 81 days and 90 days respectively on average before selling, according to data for the week ending July 21.
Data for Brisbane shows greater discounts for houses (9.5%) than units (7.8%),
Houses and units are on the market for around a month in Sydney - the shortest time on market across all capital cities - while discounting is also modest by comparison to most other  capital cities, reflecting the strength of the market.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22seven.jpg" width="470" height="323" alt="rpdatajuly22seven">
Time on market is also high in Darwin - 81 days for houses and 93 days for units.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/2013/07/chartjuly26onethumb.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2013/07/chartjuly26one.gif"></a>
<div>
RP Data measures ‘Time on market’ as the average number of days between when a property is first listed for sale and the contract date.
The rate of vendor discounting is the average percentage difference between the original listing price and the final selling price.
The data is based on private treaty sales only and records without a valid sale price have been excluded from the vendor discount analysis.
The analysis also excludes results where there are less than 10o bservations
</div>
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Hobart and Brisbane vendors discounting houses by almost 10% to find buyers: RP Data

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The median price paid for a Sydney house sold via private treaty has fallen around 4% in the past three weeks, according to weekly figures compiled by RP Data.
The figures are noteworthy because while auction results make headlines, private treaty sales represent around 85% of all dwelling sales across the country.
For the week ending July 21, RP Data records a Sydney median house price of $600,000 from 2,375 private treaty sales over the prior four weeks.
For the week ending June 30, RP Data recorded a median of $625,000 from 1,668 sales over the prior four weeks.
In contrast, Melbourne median house prices have risen from $441,750 as of June 30 to $447,750.
RP Data figures for the week ending July 21:
<img alt="rpdatajuly22five" height="292" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22five.jpg">
RP Data figures for the week ending June 30:
<img src="/images/stories/2013/larry_uploads/private_treaty_sales_rp_data.jpg" width="470" height="288" alt="private_treaty_sales_rp_data">
The statistics are calculated across houses and units sold over the most recent four week period. Records without a valid sale price have been excluded from the analysis and median prices are withheld for cities where fewer than ten sales have been recorded. 
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Sydney private treaty house prices fall 4% in three weeks: RP Data

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Sydney home values have risen 5.9% over year to July 21, according to the latest RP Data weekly market update.
It has been the strongest performing  of the five capital city markets this year, just ahead of Perth (5.2%) and a little bit further ahead of Melbourne (4%).
Across the five capital cities, home values are up 4.1% - with Brisbane (including the Gold Coast) and Adelaide weak.
The index tracks the underlying value of residential property - other indexes track sales prices, which indicate what a vendor may or may not get on the open market depending on numerous factors such as seasonality, interest rates, demand and inflation.
<img alt="rpdatajuly22one" height="263" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22one.jpg">
The graph below shows how dwelling values have been rising since bottoming out in about May last year, though at a moderate and uneven pace. <img alt="rpdatajuly22two" height="197" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/07/july22rpdatacharts/rpdatajuly22two.jpg">
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Sydney, Perth and Melbourne show strong annual growth in home values: RP Data

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Three out of the four major banks – NAB, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac - are tipping the RBA to cut the cash rate to 2.5% on August 6.
The key data release will be the second quarter inflation reading, which is expected to be well within the RBA’s target band of 2.5% giving it scope for further easing, “should that be required to support demand”.
Commonwealth Bank chief economist Michael Blythe said as part of an Australian Financial Review panel of economist that while the medium-term inflation outlook is deteriorating, “inflation in the very near term is set to remain low”.
“Together with an uptrend in unemployment, there will probably be a strong case for a rate cut at the August meeting,” says Blythe.
At the same time, lenders continue to cut their fixed home loan rates with it now being possible to secure a one-year fixed rate closer to 4% than 5%.
On Thursday last week, the <a href="/news">Greater Building Society</a> became the second lender to offer a one-year fixed-rate of 4.39%.
These are the lowest advertised variable and fixed mortgage rates based on listings on mortgage comparison websites <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ratecity.com.au/">ratecity.com.au</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://mozo.com.au/">Mozo.com.au</a>,  <a target="_blank" href="https://www.infochoice.com.au/">infochoice.com.au</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.finder.com.au/">finder.com.au </a> as of July 22:
Where the headline rate is the same, the lender with the lowest comparison rate gets preference.
Lowest variable rate offerings:
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="127">
Provider
</td>
<td valign="top" width="129">
Loan name
</td>
<td valign="top" width="98">
Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="127">
Smart finance
</td>
<td valign="top" width="129">
Refinance Only - InfoChoice Exclusive Offer
</td>
<td valign="top" width="98">
4.69%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
5.02%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="127">
State Custodians
</td>
<td valign="top" width="129">
Peak Performance Offset
</td>
<td valign="top" width="98">
4.74%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
5.11%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="127">
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td valign="top" width="129">
Blackboard Special – purchases only
</td>
<td valign="top" width="98">
4.75%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="116">
4.77%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest one-year fixed-rate offerings
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="137">
Provider
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Loan name
</td>
<td valign="top" width="95">
Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="114">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="137">
Greater Building Society
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Ultimate Home Loan Package Standard Fixed 1 year
</td>
<td valign="top" width="95">
4.39%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="114">
5.47%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="137">
Newcastle Permanent
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Residential Fixed 1 year
</td>
<td valign="top" width="95">
4.39%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="114">
5.66%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="137">
iMortgage.com.au
</td>
<td valign="top" width="123">
Fusion ProPack 75
</td>
<td valign="top" width="95">
4.67%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="114">
5.26%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Lowest three-year fixed-rate offerings
<table width="470" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="133">
Provider
</td>
<td valign="top" width="133">
Loan name
</td>
<td valign="top" width="97">
Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="108">
Comparison rate*
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="133">
HomeloanHQ
</td>
<td valign="top" width="133">
Rate Lock Home Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="97">
4.69%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="108">
5.19%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="133">
UBank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="133">
UHomeLoan for refinancing
</td>
<td valign="top" width="97">
4.73%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="108">
4.97%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="133">
Resi Home Loans
</td>
<td valign="top" width="133">
Flexi Fix - 3 Years Fixed Rate
</td>
<td valign="top" width="97">
4.78%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="108">
5.54%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
*A comparison rate includes both the interest rate and the fees and charges relating to a loan, combined into a single percentage figure.
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The cheapest fixed and variable mortgage offerings as August 6 RBA cash rate decision looms

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A “benign” inflation reading for the second quarter of the year on Wednesday should see the RBA cut the cash rate to 2.5% on August 6, says AMP Capital chief economist, Shane Oliver.
“While solid gains are expected in prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and health, this is likely to have been offset by continuing poor pricing power as clearly evident in the NAB’s business survey resulting in a rise in the CPI of 0.5% in the quarter and 2.5% year on year,” says Oliver in his latest weekly and economic market update.
This would leave inflation at the mid-point of the RBA’s target band of between 2% and 3% providing scope for another rate cut to support demand for the non-mining sectors of the economy.
“The average of the underlying inflation measures are also expected to have increased by 0.5% in the quarter resulting in 2.3% year on year,” says Oliver.
“With both measures running around or just below the mid-point of the RBA's inflation target, inflation is not a barrier to further monetary easing."
Oliver expects a pick in the residential building sector following last week’s data releases showing a fall in housing starts and imports.
“The rising trend in building approvals suggest that the fall in housing starts will be short lived,” he says.
Taking a more holistic look at the markets, Oliver expects share markets to trend up broadly despite the potential for more volatility from such factors as the US Federal tapering its monetary stimulus policy, approaching US debt ceiling negotiations, growth in China and the growth slowdown in Australia.
He says valuations are still reasonable; “monetary conditions are likely to remain very easy with interest rate hikes a long way off in all developed countries and rates still likely to fall further in Australia; and the gradually strengthening global growth outlook points to stronger profits ahead”.
“So by year end we see further upside in global and Australian shares,” he says.
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Benign inflation reading sets scene for August rate cut: Shane Oliver

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The Melbourne median unit price rose 2.8% over the June quarter to $464,500, according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
This follows the March quarter unit median being downardly revised down $456,000 to $452,000.
Unit prices marginally outperformed house prices, which recorded gains of 2.8% over the June quarter.
The strongest gains for units were recorded in the middle Melbourne suburbs, where prices were up 3.5% to $494,500.
Unit prices were up 2.6% in inner Melbourne and 1.3% in the outer suburbs.
The top peforming unit market over the quarter (with more than 30 sales) was Hawthorn with prices up 20.5% to a median of $469,250.
Over the June quarter a two-bedroom apartment  at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-hawthorn-112980723">492 Glenferrie Road </a>sold for $480,000 through Elliott Gill of Jellis Craig Bennison Mackinnon - South Yarra. It previously sold for $370,000 in March 2009, equating to annual growth of around 7%.
Another sale during the quarter was a one-bedroom apartment at 377 Burwood Road which sold for $317,000 through Reilly Waterfield of Hocking Stuart. This was above the price guide of between $285,000 and $305,000
In July a two-bedroom apartment in a  28 Pine Street, which also sold through Reilly Waterfield for $580,000. Another two-bedroom unit in the same complex sold for $550,000 in June last year.</body></html>

Melbourne unit prices up 2.8% in June quarter with Hawthorn units up 20.5%

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Median house prices in the key Victorian regional centres of Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat were flat in the June quarter in comparison to Melbourne which experienced a 2.4% increase in its house median prices, according to the latest REIV report. 
The REIV recorded a 0.8% decline in the median regional Victorian house price to $306,000 compared with $308,500 in the March quarter.
Over the past 12 months, regional house prices have gone nowhere - down a marginal 0.6% - with the vacancy rate increasing slightly from 3.3% in March to 3.7% in June.
Consistent with this the median rent for a house in regional Victoria reduced from $300 per week to $295.
The top performing regional municipality was Murrindindi in the north-east of the state, which includes the towns of Alexandra, Eildon, Kinglake and Yea, and where house prices rose 16.5% over the quarter to a median of $430,000 - they are up nearly 24% over the past 12 months.
Another strong performer was Moyne (which includes the regional town of Warrnambool), with a near 12% gain in its median house price over the June quarter to $327,000. However, prices in Moyne are still down 3.8% for the year.
There were also relatively strong regional gains in Baw Baw (5% for the quarter, 6.8% for the year), on the Surf Coast Shire (Torquay) with house prices up 4.27% over the quarter to a median of $610,000.
However, there were 7% declines in Hepburn, which includes the spa town of Daylesford ($337,000) and the Victorian Pyrenees wine region, which includes the town of Avoca, with the median house price falling $200,000 - suggesting challenges for tourism- dependent markets.
Regional Victoria by municipality (best to worst over June quarter)
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width: 470px;">
<colgroup>
<col width="189">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
<col width="70">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="16">
<td width="189" height="16"></td>
<td width="70"></td>
<td width="70"></td>
<td width="70"></td>
<td width="70"></td>
<td width="70"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="33">
<td height="33">Area</td>
<td width="70">Jun-13 Median</td>
<td width="70">Mar-13 Median</td>
<td width="70">Jun-12 Median</td>
<td width="70">Quarterly Change</td>
<td width="70">Annual Change</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MURRINDINDI</td>
<td align="right">$430,000</td>
<td align="right">$369,000</td>
<td align="right">$347,500</td>
<td align="right">16.53%</td>
<td align="right">23.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MOYNE</td>
<td align="right">$327,000</td>
<td align="right">$292,500</td>
<td align="right">$340,000</td>
<td align="right">11.79%</td>
<td align="right">-3.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">BAW BAW</td>
<td align="right">$315,000</td>
<td align="right">$300,000</td>
<td align="right">$295,000</td>
<td align="right">5.00%</td>
<td align="right">6.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">SURF COAST SHIRE</td>
<td align="right">$610,000</td>
<td align="right">$585,000</td>
<td align="right">$586,500</td>
<td align="right">4.27%</td>
<td align="right">4.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CAMPASPE</td>
<td align="right">$270,000</td>
<td align="right">$260,000</td>
<td align="right">$263,000</td>
<td align="right">3.85%</td>
<td align="right">2.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS</td>
<td align="right">$198,750</td>
<td align="right">$195,000</td>
<td align="right">$199,500</td>
<td align="right">1.92%</td>
<td align="right">-0.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MOUNT ALEXANDER</td>
<td align="right">$369,000</td>
<td align="right">$365,000</td>
<td align="right">$365,000</td>
<td align="right">1.10%</td>
<td align="right">1.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MACEDON RANGES</td>
<td align="right">$485,000</td>
<td align="right">$480,000</td>
<td align="right">$485,500</td>
<td align="right">1.04%</td>
<td align="right">-0.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">HORSHAM</td>
<td align="right">$220,000</td>
<td align="right">$218,000</td>
<td align="right">$210,000</td>
<td align="right">0.92%</td>
<td align="right">4.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CITY OF BALLARAT</td>
<td align="right">$287,500</td>
<td align="right">$285,000</td>
<td align="right">$285,000</td>
<td align="right">0.88%</td>
<td align="right">0.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">WARRNAMBOOL</td>
<td align="right">$324,500</td>
<td align="right">$322,000</td>
<td align="right">$320,000</td>
<td align="right">0.78%</td>
<td align="right">1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">EAST GIPPSLAND</td>
<td align="right">$278,000</td>
<td align="right">$276,000</td>
<td align="right">$265,000</td>
<td align="right">0.72%</td>
<td align="right">4.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MITCHELL</td>
<td align="right">$320,000</td>
<td align="right">$319,000</td>
<td align="right">$319,000</td>
<td align="right">0.31%</td>
<td align="right">0.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MILDURA</td>
<td align="right">$225,000</td>
<td align="right">$224,500</td>
<td align="right">$220,000</td>
<td align="right">0.22%</td>
<td align="right">2.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">BASS COAST</td>
<td align="right">$382,500</td>
<td align="right">$382,500</td>
<td align="right">$410,000</td>
<td align="right">0.00%</td>
<td align="right">-6.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CITY OF GREATER BENDIGO</td>
<td align="right">$310,000</td>
<td align="right">$310,000</td>
<td align="right">$300,000</td>
<td align="right">0.00%</td>
<td align="right">3.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CITY OF GREATER GEELONG</td>
<td align="right">$385,000</td>
<td align="right">$385,000</td>
<td align="right">$380,250</td>
<td align="right">0.00%</td>
<td align="right">1.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MOORABOOL</td>
<td align="right">$360,000</td>
<td align="right">$360,000</td>
<td align="right">$341,000</td>
<td align="right">0.00%</td>
<td align="right">5.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">QUEENSCLIFFE</td>
<td align="right">$700,000</td>
<td align="right">$700,000</td>
<td align="right">$690,000</td>
<td align="right">0.00%</td>
<td align="right">1.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">WODONGA</td>
<td align="right">$249,500</td>
<td align="right">$250,000</td>
<td align="right">$285,000</td>
<td align="right">-0.20%</td>
<td align="right">-12.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">SOUTH GIPPSLAND</td>
<td align="right">$238,500</td>
<td align="right">$239,000</td>
<td align="right">$265,000</td>
<td align="right">-0.21%</td>
<td align="right">-10.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">MOIRA</td>
<td align="right">$225,000</td>
<td align="right">$225,500</td>
<td align="right">$227,750</td>
<td align="right">-0.22%</td>
<td align="right">-1.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CITY OF GREATER SHEPPARTON</td>
<td align="right">$250,000</td>
<td align="right">$251,000</td>
<td align="right">$240,000</td>
<td align="right">-0.40%</td>
<td align="right">4.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">GOLDEN PLAINS</td>
<td align="right">$332,000</td>
<td align="right">$335,000</td>
<td align="right">$361,500</td>
<td align="right">-0.90%</td>
<td align="right">-8.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">WELLINGTON SHIRE</td>
<td align="right">$250,000</td>
<td align="right">$254,000</td>
<td align="right">$275,000</td>
<td align="right">-1.57%</td>
<td align="right">-9.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">ARARAT</td>
<td align="right">$150,000</td>
<td align="right">$152,500</td>
<td align="right">$170,000</td>
<td align="right">-1.64%</td>
<td align="right">-11.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CITY OF LA TROBE</td>
<td align="right">$236,250</td>
<td align="right">$243,000</td>
<td align="right">$250,000</td>
<td align="right">-2.78%</td>
<td align="right">-5.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">GLENELG</td>
<td align="right">$240,000</td>
<td align="right">$250,000</td>
<td align="right">$252,000</td>
<td align="right">-4.00%</td>
<td align="right">-4.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">STRATHBOGIE</td>
<td align="right">$302,500</td>
<td align="right">$316,250</td>
<td align="right">$242,500</td>
<td align="right">-4.35%</td>
<td align="right">24.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">CORANGAMITE</td>
<td align="right">$200,000</td>
<td align="right">$212,000</td>
<td align="right">$162,500</td>
<td align="right">-5.66%</td>
<td align="right">23.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">PYRENEES</td>
<td align="right">$200,000</td>
<td align="right">$215,000</td>
<td align="right">$210,000</td>
<td align="right">-6.98%</td>
<td align="right">-4.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="16">
<td height="16">HEPBURN</td>
<td align="right">$337,000</td>
<td align="right">$362,500</td>
<td align="right">$368,000</td>
<td align="right">-7.03%</td>
<td align="right">-8.40%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Source: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/News_Publications/News%20Archive.aspx?newsID=%7BE2DD0950-484E-44A2-A119-04A66B1E4F27%7D&amp;title=Regional%20house%20prices%20stable%20in%20the%20June%20quarter">REIV</a>
The major regional markets were flat.
"Median house prices in key regional centres were stable with a 0.9% rise in Ballarat to $287,500; no change to the $310,000 recorded in Bendigo during the March quarter; and no change to the $385,000 recorded a quarter ago in Geelong," REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo said.
The top performing suburbs with the largest quarterly change in median prices in these three cities were Lake Wendouree in Ballarat with 13.88% and median price of $595,000, Maiden Gully in Greater Bendigo with 6.30% (median price of $425,000) and Barwon Heads in Greater Geelong with 11.03% (median of $755,000).
The Geelong market appears to have taken the recent announcements of job cuts or future job cuts at Ford, Target and other companies in its stride. House prices are up 1.2% over the past 12 months with Barwon Heads prices up 17.1% over the past 12 months and East Geelong prices up an impressive 21.4% over the past 12 months to a median of $437,000.
Outside of the main regional centres, the results were a mixed bag of the June quarter.
Many regional markets recorded either flat or declining house prices with Shepparton, house prices down 0.4% to a median of $250,000, Horsham recording a modest gain of 0.8% to a median of $220,000, Mildura up 0.22% to a median of $225,000 and prices almost unchanged in Mitchell, Moira and Moorabaool.
The REIV notes that demand was strong in the Macedon Ranges and the Mount Alexander Shire with a 1% and 1.1% rise respectively. 
"These two municipalities are part of the popular Melbourne to Bendigo corridor and as the data is based on the sales over the twelve months to end of each quarter the change is quite significant," says the REIV's spokesperson Robert Larocca.
Picture courtesy of goodmove.vic.gov.au.
</body></html>

Regional Victorian house prices flat in June quarter, but Murrindindi among growth spots

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Larry Schlesinger

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